PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Republican leader in Rhode Island has added the state’s treasurer and controller to a lawsuit he filed to try to force a meeting of the joint committee responsible for the General Assembly’s daily operations.
House Minority Leader Blake Filippi named the treasurer and controller as co-defendants in his lawsuit over the Joint Committee on Legislative Services on Friday, WPRI-TV reported. Other defendants include the Democratic House speaker, Senate president, other lawmakers and the committee’s executive director.
Filippi filed the lawsuit in January because House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello ordered a performance audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority through the committee. Mattiello was accused of ordering it in retaliation as the agency was dealing with a personnel issue involving one of his campaign donors.
Mattiello said it wasn’t connected, though he canceled the audit after questions were raised.
Filippi, who’s a member of the joint committee, then said he’d amend his complaint to focus on the fact that Mattiello effectively controls all of the committee’s decisions as its chairman. The full committee hasn’t met in years to properly authorize any of the committee’s actions, he said.
Some committee members have said they can’t meet now because of the litigation.
The committee is responsible for the overall financial and administrative functions of the General Assembly.
Treasurer Seth Magaziner supports any effort to improve accountability and transparency in matters of public finance, his spokesman said Friday, when asked about the lawsuit.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.